"The answer to that is...yes. The Ghost Girl needs people and isn't picky over who she needs. That is why she gave powers to us, seemingly at random. But that doesn't mean we can trust her. For all we know, she may want us for a cause that would be destructive or against our morals or both.  For now, she has all the cards. [i]For now[/i]."

That... might make some sense.  The Ghost Girl chose so many different people because anybody would do?  But something didn't sit right in that idea, either; there was a much stronger feeling inside her chest that told Anni all these strange, distinct individuals had been chosen because of exactly what they could and would do.  And if she already had the power to make all of this happen, the Ghost Girl wouldn't really need them to cause destruction, would she?

"You know," Ascot continued, startling Anni out of her thoughts and causing her head to raise until they made eye contact again, "I like girls too. But few of them are so outspoken, yet kind. Assertive, yet gentle. Feminine, yet with steel under that silk." He blushed. "And, well, let's just say that I never noticed those attributes in you before; I am sorry."

Her eyes must have been as wide as saucers.  Firstly, this was far more attention than she was used to receiving from a boy; he was staring way too much!  Secondly, what was he saying!?  What was he thinking?  What was he doing?  Why was he descending and changing back into the young man she knew from before Irriss?

...Why could she remember that look in his eyes so clearly?

Then he was up again, hair white and wings fluttering.  Anni was still half-dazed--until he said, "I will not throw myself at you like I did with Saffron."

[I]With Saffron.  Saffron. [b]Saffron[/b].[/I]

[I]'Two hours ago he had... to him but... he is there, and now... to me, he would...'[/I]

Anni's mind was spinning in circles.  She couldn't hear any more of what he was saying.  First he had professed to Saffron, but already he was advancing on her?  And it was an advance, she knew that; that's what a date meant for sure!  This guy, this guy-!

"So, a mini-date in a rose garden, if you, Tristan, and Tabitha agree?" he concluded with a smile so bright it could have been used for a camera's flash.

There was only one answer Anni could give him, but she didn't know how on earth... how on Irriss she was going to say it.  Instead, Anni threw up both her hands as a protective shield and cried out, [color=ff4500]"NothankyouIhavetogobye!"[/color]  And with that, the small girl darted away.  She didn't even pause to consider her direction; she just needed to run.  It wasn't until a deep voice tickled her ear that Anni realized she was running within two feet of the scary man.  From that close distance he was watching her, telling her something so quietly she barely heard it herself.

[hider=A whisper just for her][color=dc143c]"Be wild and don't let any rules hold you back."[/color][/hider]

Anni kept running--she even managed to increase her speed to get away from him.  He probably tried to say something more, but she missed it.  Too much was happening all at once.  Anni bent her tracks toward Kate, reached her, and dove behind her back to hide from everything.  That was enough--no, that was too much learning about the others already!